Calcium and potassium-enhanced growth and yield of tomato under sodium chloride stress

The effects of salinization of nutrient solutions with NaCl, Ca(NO3)(2) and KNO3 on selected root, leaf and yield parameters of five tomato cultivars were investigated under greenhouse condition. Results of the study showed that addition of 50 mM NaCl to nutrient solution significantly reduced root volume and fresh weight, calcium and potassium concentrations, leaf number and fresh weight, as well as fruit yield. Addition of calcium and potassium, either alone or in combination with each other, to saline nutrient solution increased root volume, fresh weight and calcium concentration, leaf fresh weight and fruit yield per plant. Moreover, root potassium concentration and leaf fresh weight increased when 20 mM Ca(NO3)(2) was added to saline nutrient solution but not with 2 mM KNO3. Leaf number, on the other hand, increased with K but not with Ca application to the saline nutrient solution. Of the five cultivars screened, 'Pearson' showed the best performance followed by 'Montecarlo', 'UC 82L', 'Pakmore' and 'Strain B' in decreasing order.